Memphis, Tenn.–A group representing Obion and Lake Counties attended the 2022 Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Tourism that was held this year at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis.
Included from Discovery Park were Scott Williams, president and CEO; Dr. Emalee Buttrey, director of education and museum experience; Tammy Ursery, director of group sales; and Clare Saum, director of marketing. Also with the group was Brooke Coffey, community relations director, Obion County Joint Economic Development Corporation and Katrina Greer, executive director, Reelfoot Lake Tourism Council.
The conference is hosted each year by the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association.
It provides an opportunity for those working in the hospitality sectors — food and beverage, lodging, recreation, travel and tourism and meetings and events — to engage with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and others who are working to bring more visitors into the state and create opportunities for them to stay longer.
In addition to panel discussions and presentations, including one featuring Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Tourism Commissioner Mark Ezell, the conference included a seminar for those working in rural tourism, a trade show and numerous educational programs.
While presenting the results of the tourism business in Tennessee in 2021, Ezell noted that visitor spending in the state of $24.2 billion was an increase over the previous year of 44% — the highest ever. This was better than the national percentage of 36%. State and local tax revenue of $1.9 billion was up 40%, outperforming the national average of 24%. As Ezell noted in his presentation numerous times, “tourism is real money.” Travel-generated tax revenue lowered the average Tennessee household’s state and local tax burden by $755 annually.
Spending by visitors of $66.93 million in 2021 in Obion County was up 28.5% over 2020. Lake County was one of 51 Tennessee counties where visitor spending actually exceeded 2019. Spending by visitors of $7.43 million in 2021 in Lake County was up 38% over 2020.
Another special guest at the conference was fishing icon Bill Dance. Governor Lee recently announced a new initiative to improve and enhance Tennessee lakes, increase visitation and honor Dance’s legacy with the creation of Bill Dance Signature Lakes. TWRA and the State of Tennessee will invest $15 million in improvements both above and below the water at 18 lakes, including Reelfoot Lake, which bear fishing legend Dance’s stamp of approval.
Photo: A group from Obion and Lake Counties at the 2022 Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Tourism. From left–Dr. Emalee Buttrey, Tammy Ursery, Katrina Greer, Brooke Coffey, Clare Saum and Scott Williams.